Over the years, Logan Airport has had to pay dearly for the taking of the famed Wood Island Park for airport expansion. The park, designed by Frederick Olmsted, was razed in the late 1960s. Since that time and through several mitigation projects, the operators of Logan have constructed two award winning parks in East Boston as a way to add more public open space to the neighborhood. Piers Park on Marginal Street, a 7-acre waterfront park has great views of Boston, a public sailing facility, and, in the spring and summer months, concerts and public events weekly. The other park is the newly constructed Bremen Street Park, a 18-acre park in the heart of the neighborhood on the Logan Airport MBTA train line. This sprawling park has bocce courts, Asian themed public gardens, playgrounds and walking and bike paths.In East Boston is a public beach on the Orient Heights MBTA Train Line. The beach, known as Constitution Beach, sits directly across from Logan Airport and is a place local beach bums hang out, play tennis, basketball or handball or take a swim. The beach has newly constructed bathhouses and playground. Suffolk Downs Racetrack on the Suffolk Downs MBTA Train Line, is a horse racing track that will take you back in time to when horse racing was at its prime. Over the years, the historic track has seen the likes of Seabiscuit and Cigar run its course. The track still holds daily races and simulcasting and its signature race, the Massachusetts Handicap or MassCap, is held in the fall. Across Bennington Street at the Suffolk Downs MBTA Line is the Belle Isle Reservation--a protected Saltwater Marsh which is a perfect place to stroll and explore during fall, spring and summer months.
